Paul Edward Dawson Jr.

THOMASVILLE — Charges are mounting, and a suspect — the alleged get-away driver — claims he and three co-defendants were asleep during the time an armed robbery was committed against a store owner a week ago.

Paul Edward Dawson Jr. is one of four Moultrie residents who are suspects in the Monday, March 6, bold nighttime armed robbery of a convenience store after the victim left his store about 11:30 p.m. The business owner, with a store clerk as a passenger, was forced off North Pinetree Boulevard and robbed of an undetermined amount of cash.

With the exception of Dawson, suspects were captured a short time later, when the vehicle they were traveling in was forced off the road by a Thomas County Sheriff’s Office deputy and crashed. Dawson, who had been driving, told investigators he got out of the car on Libby Lane and ran into woods.

“He gave admission to the robberies he’d participated in,” Lt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator said. Dawson admitted to robberies in Thomasville, Tifton and Moultrie.

The three suspects arrested before Dawson said they were asleep during the March 13 Thomasville stickup. 

“Even the driver said he was asleep,” Watkins said. “They were all asleep, according to them.”

Bond has been denied on the four suspects. They remain in the Thomas County Jail.

Each is charged with armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault on the store owner and clerk, two counts of false imprisonment, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and three counts each of aggravated assault on a police officer.

“They ran officers off the road and actually struck two officers in their vehicles with the their vehicles,” Watkins said.

In addition to Thomas County charges, Thomasville Police charged suspects with criminal street gang activity, Capt. Maurice Holmes, Thomasville Police Department Criminal Investigations Division commander, said Monday.

The crimes allegedly were committed in concert with two or more individuals, resulting in the gang-related charge.

According to Georgia law, suspects can be charged with criminal street gang activity if directly or indirectly involved in a crime, Holmes explained.

“I believe they’re affiliated with gangs in Moultrie,” Watkins said.

Cash taken in the armed robbery has not been recovered and neither have weapons being sought by authorities. One firearm, a handgun, was recovered in the suspects’ car the night of the crime.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820